Bag Carrying Device

ABSTRACT

A bag carrying apparatus to be selectively supported by the neck of a person according to the present invention includes a primary support member having opposed first and second ends with a flexible pad situated therebetween. The bag carrying apparatus includes a pair of primary straps having primary strap first ends coupled to the primary support member first and second ends, respectively, and having primary strap second ends opposite the primary strap first ends, respectively. A pair of hook members is operatively coupled to the primary strap second ends, each hook member having a plurality of hooks configured to capture a bag handle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This invention claims the priority of U.S. Application 61/744,348 filedon Oct. 16, 2012 titled Bag Grabber.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to devices for transporting variousarticles and, more particularly, to a bag carrying device configured tobe worn about and hang from a person's neck and to which multiple bags,such as grocery sacks, may be suspended and carried.

Goods such as groceries or other newly purchased goods are typicallypacked into plastic bags that may be carried or transported in a cart bythe consumer to her automobile for transport to the consumer's home.Once arriving at home, the consumer faces the undesirable task oftransporting the multiple bags of goods from the automobile into theconsumer's home. This is a particularly undesirable task when there maybe many more bags than can be reasonably carried in a single trip intothe house. Further, the weight of carrying even a single bag may bechallenging to the consumer, especially for consumers who are elderly orotherwise physically challenged.

Although devices that may enable multiple bags to be transported in asingle trip, such as a cart, wheelbarrow, or hand truck (a.k.a. dolly)may be assumably effective, they do not enable a person to carrymultiple bags simultaneously by distributing the weight to the person'slegs and torso. Further, the existing devices and proposals are notwearable about the consumer's neck and are not completely collapsiblefor easy storage in a vehicle glove box.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a bag carrying apparatus thatis wearable about a user's neck and configured to secure multiple bagsto be carried simultaneously by normal walking by the user. Further, itwould be desirable to have a bag carrying apparatus that distributes theweight of the carried bags to the user's legs and torso.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A bag carrying apparatus to be selectively supported by the neck of aperson according to the present invention includes a primary supportmember having opposed first and second ends with a flexible pad situatedtherebetween. The bag carrying apparatus includes a pair of primarystraps having primary strap first ends coupled to the primary supportmember first and second ends, respectively, and having primary strapsecond ends opposite the primary strap first ends, respectively. A pairof hook members is operatively coupled to the primary strap second ends,each hook member having a plurality of hooks configured to capture a baghandle.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a bagcarrying apparatus having a pair of straps and hooks that may be wornaround and hang from a person's neck and configured to carry multiplebags of items such as groceries simultaneously.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bag carrying apparatus,as aforesaid, that causes the weight of multiple bags of items to bedistributed broadly to the torso and legs of a user.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bag carryingapparatus, as aforesaid, having multiple hooks configured to capture thehandles of bags to be carried.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a bag carryingapparatus, as aforesaid, that is simple and quick to attach to andremove from a user's body.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bag carryingapparatus, as aforesaid, that is collapsible for storage inside anautomobile, such as under a seat or in the glove compartment.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration andexample, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag carrying apparatus according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the bag carrying apparatus as in FIG. 1illustrated in use on a person;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the bag carrying apparatus as in FIG. 2illustrating the primary straps in an extended configuration; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the bag carrying apparatus as in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A bag carrying apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of thepreferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described withreference to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings. The bag carryingapparatus 10 includes a support member 20, a pair of primary straps 30,40 and a pair of hook members 70, 72.

The primary support member 20 includes a flexible pad 22 having first 24and second 26 ends. The primary support member 20 may have a flexibleconstruction and a generally rectangular configuration although othershapes may also work. The support member 20 is configured to rest uponand conform to the shape of the back of a user's neck as will bedescribed in more detail later.

The pair of primary straps includes first ends coupled to first 24 andsecond 26 ends of the support member 20, respectively. Moreparticularly, the pair of primary straps includes a first primary strap30 and a second primary strap 40. The first primary strap 30 includes afirst end 32 coupled to the support member first end 24 and a firstprimary strap second end 34 opposite the first primary strap first end26. The second primary strap 40 includes a first end 42 coupled to thesupport member second end 26 and a second primary strap second end 44opposite the second primary strap first end 42. Each primary strap 30,40 includes a flexible and elongate configuration. Further, each primarystrap 30, 40 is length adjustable so as to accommodate being worn andused by persons of different heights.

The bag carrying apparatus 10 includes a pair of strap extension memberscoupled to respective second ends of the primary strap members. Moreparticularly, a first extension member 50 includes opposed first 52 andsecond 54 ends. A second extension member 60 includes opposed first 62and second 64 ends. The extension members may be coupled to the primarystraps with quick-connect fasteners. Specifically, the first primarysupport strap second end 34 includes a first quick connect coupler 36.Similarly, the second primary support strap second end 44 includes asecond quick connect coupler 46. The first extension member first end 52includes a quick connect first receiver 56 that is configured to receivethe first primary strap coupler 36. Similarly, the second extensionmember first end 62 includes a quick connect second receiver 66 that isconfigured to receive the second primary strap coupler 46. It isunderstood that respective couplers and receivers may be quickly coupledtogether and uncoupled by a user.

The pair of hook members 70, 72 may be coupled to second ends 54, 64 ofthe extension members 50, 60, respectively with fasteners, such aD-shaped fasteners or the like. In addition, each hook member 70, 72 mayinclude a plurality of individual hooks, each having a generallyU-shaped or otherwise upwardly directed configuration. Specifically,each hook is configured to be used like a hanger on which the handle ofa grocery bag may be secured.

The bag carrying apparatus 10 may also include a pair of auxiliarystraps 80, 90 attached to the pair of primary straps, respectively, thatare situated to extend inwardly. The auxiliary straps 80, 90 may belength adjustable. The auxiliary straps 80, 90 are intended to extendacross the chest or around the back of a person wearing the apparatus10. Specifically, each auxiliary strap may have an inner end attached toa respective primary strap and a free end. The free end may include aquick connect fastener in a manner similar to the quick connect couplerand receive described previously. Each auxiliary strap 80, 90 isdisplaced downwardly from the support member 20 and is orientedgenerally perpendicular to the primary strap to which it is attached.The auxiliary straps 80, 90 enable a user to secure the apparatus 10 toher body so it does not inadvertently slide off the user's neck.

In use, a user may wear the bag carrying apparatus 10 in a mannersimilar to wearing a work or hunting vest. As shown in FIG. 2, theprimary support member 20 may be positioned on the back of the user'sneck and the primary straps 30, 40 positioned on the front of the user'storso. The auxiliary straps 80, 90 may be extended across the user'schest or behind the back so as to secure the apparatus 10 fromunintentionally falling away from the user's body. Then, one or more baghandles (not shown) may be hung from respective hooks of the pair ofhook members 70, 72 and carried between locations as the user walks in anormal manner.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have beenillustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar assuch limitations are included in the following claims and allowablefunctional equivalents thereof.

1. A bag carrying apparatus to be selectively supported by the neck of aperson, comprising: a primary support member having opposed first andsecond ends; a pair of primary straps having primary strap first endscoupled to said primary support member first and second ends,respectively, and having primary strap second ends opposite said primarystrap first ends, respectively; and a pair of hook members operativelycoupled to said primary strap second ends.
 2. The bag carrying apparatusas in claim 1, wherein said pair of primary support straps includes: afirst primary support strap having a first primary support strap firstend coupled to said primary support member first end; and a secondprimary support strap having a second primary support strap secondcoupled to said primary support member second end.
 3. The bag carryingapparatus as in claim 2, wherein: said first primary support strapincludes a elongate flexible configuration; said second primary supportstrap includes a elongate flexible configuration; said first primarysupport strap is length adjustable; and said second primary supportstrap is length adjustable.
 4. The bag carrying apparatus as in claim 2,wherein: said first primary support strap includes a second end oppositesaid first primary support strap first end; said second primary supportstrap second end includes a second end opposite said second primarysupport strap; said first primary support strap second end includesfirst primary support strap coupler; and said second primary supportstrap second end includes a second primary support strap coupler.
 5. Thebag carrying apparatus as in claim 5, comprising: a first extensionmember that includes a first end having a first receiver configured toselectively receive said first primary support strap coupler and asecond end coupled to a respective hook member; and a second extensionmember having a second receiver configured to selectively receive saidsecond primary support strap coupler and a second end coupled to anotherrespective hook member.
 6. The bag carrying apparatus as in claim 1,further comprising a pair of extension members releasably coupled tosaid primary strap second ends, respectively, said pair of hook membersbeing coupled to terminal ends of said pair of extension members,respectively.
 7. The bag carrying apparatus as in claim 6, wherein saidpair of hook members are coupled to said pair of extension members,respectively, with D-shaped fasteners.
 8. The bag carrying apparatus asin claim 1, comprising a pair of auxiliary straps attached to said pairof primary straps, respectively, said pair of auxiliary straps beingdisplaced from said primary support member and extending inwardly fromsaid pair of primary support straps, respectively.
 9. The bag carryingapparatus as in claim 8, wherein said pair of auxiliary support strapsis length adjustable.
 10. The bag carrying apparatus as in claim 1,wherein said primary support member includes a neck pad situated betweensaid primary support member first and second ends, said neck pad havinga generally planar and flexible configuration.
 11. The bag carryingapparatus as in claim 10, wherein said neck pad includes a generallyrectangular configuration having padding on an inner surface thereof.12. The bag carrying apparatus as in claim 1, wherein each hook memberof said pair of hook members includes a plurality of hooks having agenerally U-shaped configuration capable of holding a grocery baghandle.